US 5,716,357 AGranted

Spinal treatment and long bone fixation apparatus and method

OwnerChaim Rogozinskiinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system for treating spinal conditions by moving or spatially fixing at least one vertebra relative to another vertebra. The invention includes a link member the ends of which are configured to be secured to adjacent vertebrae and which are offset from a central portion of the link member. The link members can be in the form of a C-shaped or V-shaped rod or plate to form the offset. The offset provides increased bone volume that can be used for grafts or fusion. Attachment structure in the form of bone screws, bolts, or hook members are provided to secure the link members to respective vertebrae or other bones. A plurality of link members can be connected in chain-like fashion to connect multiple points on a plurality of vertebrae or other bones even though those points are nonlinear. In another aspect of the invention, a multi-directional attachment member is provided and may be used with the link members to form a spinal implant or external bone fixation system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for moving or spatially fixing a first vertebra with respect to a second vertebra, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of hook members configured to engage the lamina of a vertebra, each hook member being substantially L-shaped and including a pad portion extending transversely from an extended portion and having an upper surface defining a support for receiving a lamina of a vertebra, the extended portion including a threaded shaft which extends upwardly from said transverse pad portion, the extended portion and the transverse pad portion forming the L-shape of said hook member, said extended portion being configured to receive thereon a spinal fixation device so that said device is spaced from the pad portion of said hook member with a lamina of a vertebra captured therebetween;
and
at least one spinal fixation device;
whereby one hook member may be positioned on the lamina of a first vertebra with said lamina captured between the pad portion of the one hook member and a first end of the spinal fixation device which is disposed on the extended portion of the one hook member, and another hook member may be positioned on the lamina of a second vertebra which is adjacent to said first vertebra, with the lamina of said second vertebra captured between the pad portion of the other hook member and a second end of the spinal fixation device which is disposed over the extended portion of the other hook member, and locking members may be secured over the extended portions of the respective hook members to lock the spinal fixation device thereto such that the first and second vertebra are rigidly connected.

1 more element

An apparatus for treating spinal conditions such as spinal instability and deformities by applying force to selected vertebrae, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of link members, each configured to be secured to adjacent vertebrae to exert a desired force on at least one vertebra;
each of said link members being in the form of an integral member having opposite ends with an aperture in each end, and a central portion extending between said opposite ends, each of said opposite ends having means for locking the end of one link member to the end of another link member at various desired angular positions with the end of one link member overlying the end of an adjacent link;
said plurality of link members being configured for attachment to each other with one of said opposite ends of a first link member overlying one of said opposite ends of a second link member to form a linked construct that extends between two distal points on said vertebrae, the individual link members of said plurality of link members each being connectible to selected points on adjacent vertebrae so as to permit said linked construct to follow a nonlinear path between said two distal points;
and
attachment means for securing each of said plurality of link members to adjacent vertebrae and to at least one additional link of said plurality of link members to form said linked construct which exerts the desired force on said selected vertebra.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/692,821Filed 29 Jul 1996 · continuation
Priority: 7 Jun 1995
Granted: 10 Feb 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

A61B 17/7049
Spinal positioners or stabilisers, e.g. stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant: connectors, not bearing on the vertebrae, for linking…
A61B 17/7007
With a cross-section which varies along its length: parts of the longitudinal elements, e.g. their ends, being specially adapted to fit around the…
A61B 17/701
Longitudinal elements, e.g. rods: longitudinal elements with a non-circular, e.g. rectangular, cross-section
A61B 17/7011
Longitudinal elements, e.g. rods: longitudinal element being non-straight, e.g. curved, angled or branched